Velocipede



(No Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 1.

D. S. TROY.

VELOOIPEDE.

No. 317,893. Patented May 12, 1885.

WITNESSES I DTVENTOR w v I W 17mg? 1 BY ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERs. Pmm-ulhu nphnr. Wuhingtan, D. c.

6 Sheets- Sheet 2 D. S. TROY.

VELOCIPEDE.

(No Model.)

[NVENTOR ,'0 9? 17% Patented May 12, 1885 WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

N. PETERS, PhoflrLilhngr-aphon Washington. DC.

6 Sheets-Sheet; 3, D. S. TROY.

VELOGIPEDE.

(No Model.)

1 I I I ll WITNESSES:

R "We; 2i

ATTORNEYS.

N- PETERS. Phflbulhogmphar. Wishingflm D. C-

6 Sheets-Sheet 4. D. S. TROY.

VELOGIPEDE.

(No Model.)

Patented May 12, 1885-.

INVENTOR A J 92 BY ATTORNEYS WITNESSES I i N. PETERS. PmLkhognpbor,Wmhlngicn, D C.

6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

D. S. TROY.

VELOGIPBDB.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES ATTORNEYS.

' 6 Sheets-Sheet 6. D. S. TROY. VELOOIPEDE.

(No Model.)

Patented Ma.

INVENTOR! X) J J;

v BY t/CLLMl/I V WITNESSES CH. 43W

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PPATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL S. TROY, OF MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA.

VELOCIPED E.

EPECIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 317,893, dated May 12,1885.

Application filed August 19, 1884.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL S. TROY, of Montgomery, in the county ofMontgomery and State of Alabama, have invented a new and ImprovedGas-Velocipedc, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved velocipedewhich is propolled by a motor operated by the explosion of compressedgas and air, which vclocipede is so constructed that it can carry alarge quantity of compressed gas, can travel very rapidly, and can besteered easily.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts, aswill be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation of my improved gas-velocipede,parts being broken out and others shown in section. Fig. 2 is a planview of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of theexplosion-cylinder and the slide-valves, also showing the arrangement ofthe cranks on the driving-shaft; Fig. 4 is aplan view of the same,partly in section. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional elevation on the line a;:0, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view on the line 3 y, Fig. 5.Fig. 7 is a side view of the frame of the vehicle. Fig. 8 isa plan viewof the same. Fig. 9 is a front end view of the same. Fig. 10 is a sideelevation of the eanrdisks on the drivingshaft and the devices forregulating the same. Fig. 11 is an edge view of the same, parts beingbroken out and others shown in section. Fig. 12 is a side view of thecam for operating the valves for admitting the mixture of gas and airinto the explosion-cylinder.

The velocipede is constructed with a suitable light and very strongmetal frame in which three cylindrical receptacles for the compressedgas are carried, of which receptacles, tanks, or reservoirs two(designated as A in the drawings) are arranged horizontally andlongitudinally, and the third, 13, is arranged transversely. The ends ofthe tanks A are held in the front and rear frames, 0 and C,respectively, of the main frame A,

the rear frame, 0, being provided with two downwardly-projecting prongs,O, in which the crank-shaft D of the single rear driving wheel, D, isjournaled. The tanks A must be separated sufficiently to permit thewheel Dto revolve between them.

At the middle of the frame A two circular bands, A are formed, whichsurround the tanks at or near the middle in the same mair ner as thebands or frames 0 G at the ends.

On the under side of the frame A guides B for the cr0ss-heads arearranged, and in front of the cross heads circular frames or rings 13are suspended from the bottom of the frame A, which rings or circularframes 13' serve to hold the explosion-cylinder E and the valve-chest.On the middle bands, 13 elliptical or other springs,F, are secured,whichsupport the seat F, below which a box is ar ranged for receiving theinduction apparatus.

The several parts of the abovedescribed frame are well braced andstiffened by suitable brace-bands.

On each end of the tank B, which is arranged horizontally andtransversely a short distance in front of the tanks A, anoutwardly-projeeting pivot, G, is formed on which the front wheels, G,are loosely mounted, and are held in place by nuts or other suitabledevices, the front tank, B, thus virtually forming the forward axle ofthe vehicle. On the said tank B an upwardly-projecting dome, B, isformed, from which a neck, B, projects upward, which is surmounted by asteam-gage, G", which, however, can be connected with the neck B in anysuitable manner.

On the front ends of the tanks A necks H are formed, which are united toform a hollow collar, H, around the neck B, projecting upward from thedome B, the said collar being provided at the top and bottom withsuitable packing-strips, so as to cause the collar to fit very closely.

That part of the neck B" surrounded by the collar H is provided with aseries of apertures, a, which establish communication between the neck,the said collar, and the tanks A, thereby also establishingcommunication betweenthe tanks A A and B.

Arms b project upward from a collar, 71, on neck '13", above ring H, andarms 0 project downward from a collar, h, below collar H,

on the-free ends of which arms I) c the rings I) and c are secured,which surround and are secured to the neck 13 and the dome B,respectively, as shown in Fig. 5, thus holding the collar Hin the properplace in relation to the neck 13, and preventing undue twisting strainon the collar and neck. The neck 13 can turn within the collar H, andthe collar H between the collars h h.

Rods or arms d project in opposite directions from the ring b, and areconnected by connecting-rods d with a transverse lever, c, pivotedcentrally on the platform F in front of the seat F, from which cross'rod or lever c a shaft, f, projects upward, and is provided at itsupper end with a transverse handle, f,

'in front of the seat F, whereby the person occupying the seat isenabled to turn the dome B the neck 13, and the tank? very easily on thelongitudinal vertical axis of the dome B" and the neck B, for steeringthe vehicle. A screw plug or cock, projects from the front ofthe dome,and serves to connect the tanks with a pipe,through which the compressedgas is conducted to the said tanks.

The cylinderE is ring-shaped and surrounds another cylinder, E, which isclosed at both ends, the cylinder E being open at one end. The cylinderEcontains a ring-shaped piston, J, and the cylinder E contains a circularpiston, J. The piston-rod J, )rojecting from the piston J, and through astuffing-box in the end of the cylinder E, is connected with a forkedconnectingrod, J, having its ends pivoted to two cranks, K, on thedrivingshaft K.

From the piston J two piston-rods, L, project, which are connected byconnecting-rods L with two cranks, L on the driving-shaft K, the cranksL projecting in the reverse direction of the cranks K.

At the closed end of the outer cylinder, E, a mixing-chamber, M, isformed, which is connected by a channel, M, with the cylinder E, whichchannel can be closed by a valve, M connected with a rod, M, adapted tobe acted upon by a lever, M, pivoted on the end of the cylinder.

A sliding rod, N, held in the front end of the cylinder is adapted toact on the lever M, and is pushed outward by the piston J when the samemoves toward that end of the piston in which the rod is held. Acontactpiece, m, on the end of the lever 1P, isconnected with anelectric lighter or spark-producing device, 0, held in the end of thecylinder E, which sparkproducing device is connected by a wire, 0, withthe induction-coil P in the seat-box, the said coil being connected by awire, 0, with a contact-piece held on an arm, q, projecting from the endof the cylinting the gas andair into the chest, and the other foradmitting the gas and air into the explosion-chamber. The first set ismounted on a rod, R, and the second on a rod, S. A pipe, T, connects achannel, T, in the valvechest I with the cylinder E. The arrangement ofthe valves need not be fully described, as I have described them andtheir operation fully in previous applications.

The valves S and S on the rod S always have the same reciprocatingmotion; but the valves 1% and R on the rod It must be so arranged thatthey can be adjusted. The rod R is connected with a pivoted lever, U, onthe lower end of which an anti-friction roller, U, is mounted, whichprojects over the edges of two cam-disks, \V and \V, of which the formeris rigidly mounted on the shaft K, and the latter is mounted on asleeve, V, on the shaft K, the said sleeve being provided at the opposite end with a cog-wheel, 1*, with which two rack-bars, s, engage,the said rack-bars being arranged to slide in grooves or between guides011 a disk, I, mounted rigidly on the shaft K. From the rack-bars spinst project through slots t in the disk I, and are connected by rods 1with a grooved collar, Z, mounted loosely on the shaft K, in the annulargroove of which collar Z the forked end of a lever, 7.:, is held, whichis pivoted to the outside of one of the tanks A, and extends up to theseat F.

The-pipe l? is provided with a valve connected with a lever, 1?,extending up to the seat, by means of which lever the valve can beopened or closed at will.

The rod R is jointed, and at one end is surrounded by a'spiral spring,It, which presses it in the direction toward the valve-chest. The rod Sis also jointed, and is pivoted to a lever, S, provided in its lower endwith a pin, S", which projects into a cam-groove, Y, in a disk, Y,mounted rigidly on the shaft K. The cam-disks for operating the two setsof valves are arranged on the shaft at opposite ends.

The operation is. as follows: By means of the steering device describedabove the front tank, Rand the dome and neck formed on the same caneasily be turned on the vertical central axis of the dome and neck, andthus the vehicle can be steered easily and rapidly. To start thevehicle, it must be pushed after the valves have been opened to causethe contact to be closed and one explosion made; or it can be soadjusted that the explosion will follow after avery slight movement ofthe wheels. Compressed gas passes into the cylinder E, where it expandsand drives the piston J in the direction of the arrows to, the piston Jmoving in the inverse direction of the arrow a at the same time. Theexpanded gas is then mixed with air in the chamber M, the'pis'ton Jstrikes the rod N and pushes it in the inverse direction of-the arrow a,opening the valve M and permitting the mixture of gas and air to passfrom the chamber M into thecylinder E. Then the electric eircuitisclosed, a spark is produced, and the. mixture of gas and airexploded,whereby the piston J is driven in the direction of the arrowa,and ,,he piston J moves in the inverse directiofi of the arrow a.During the movement of the piston J in the inverse direction of thearrow a air is drawn into the cylinder E by means of the pipe T and thechannel T in the valve-box 1?. During the stroke of the piston J in thedirection of the arrow a the air in the cylinder E is forced through thepipe T and the channel T, and through channels in the valve-box into thechamber M, where it is mixed with the gas, and so on, the piston J andthe cylinder E thus serving as a pump for supplying the requiredquantity of air to produce an explosive mixture.

The valves on the rodsR and S are operated from the cams XVA andY bymeans of the levers U and S. The movements of the valves S and S on therod S are always the same, independently of the quantity-of gas and airadmitted intotheexplosion-cylinder. Themovements of the valves It and Rmust be changed according to the quantity of gas and air to be admitted.When the cams V and TV act on the lever U to pull the rod It from thevalvechest P, the spring R" is compressed, and as soon as the roller Uon the lower end of the lever U runs on the raised part of the cams, thespring R expands and throws the lever B toward the valve-chest veryrapidly. As long as the roller U on the lower end of the lever U runs onthe raised part of the cams, the valve R keeps the gasinlet 1?" closed,and as soon as the roller 'U runs off of the raised parts of the camsthe valve It is moved from the gas-inlet P, thus permitting the gas topass into the mixing-chamber M. If the cams V \V are so adjusted thatthe roller U runs on the raised parts for a long time,very little gaswill be admitted into the mixing-chamber, and if the cams are soadjusted that the roller U runs on the raised parts of the cams a veryshort time, a comparatively greater quantity of gas will be admitted.For this reason I have provided means for adjusting the cams \V W insuch a manner that the roller U will run a greater or less time on theraised parts of the said cams. By moving the sliding eollar Z from thedisk I by means of the lever Ir, which extends up to the seat, therack-bars s are moved toward each otherthat is, inward or toward themiddle of the disk I-and thereby revolve the sleeve V and the cam XV onthe same in the direction of the arrow a Fig. 10, and thus extending theraised part of the united cams, and in this position but very little gaswill be admitted into the mixing-chamber, as the roller U runs on thelower parts of the cams but a very short time. If the speed is to beincreased, more gas must be admitted into theexplosion-cylinder, andthis isaeeomplished by moving the collar Z in the direction toward thedisk l,whereby the racks s will be moved from each other, and will turnthe sleeve? and the cam \V. on the same in the inverse direction of thearrow a thus decreasing the entire length of the raised part of thecombined cams, and causing the roller U to run a greater length of timeon the lower parts of the cams, whereby the gas-inlet valve will be heldopen a greater length of time. The speed and power of the machine canthus be controlled very easily, and the machine can be governed in everyrespect by the person occupying the seat F.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a velocipede, the combination, witha vehiele-frame, of two gas-tanks held longitudiually in the said frame,a rear driving-wheel located between the tanks, a transverse frontgas-tank adapted to revolve in the horizontal plane, and wheels mountedon the ends of the transverse tank, substantially as herein shown anddescribed.

2. In a velocipcde, the combination, with a vehicle-frame, of twolongitudinal gas-tanks, A, and the transverse gas-tank B, having a dome,B, on which a neck, B, is formed, and

of the united necks H, secured on the front cured to the front ends ofthe tanks A and a united by a collar, H, surrounding the neck on thedome, the arms 7) c, projecting upward and downward from the collars hh, and the rings 1) and c on the ends of the arms I) and c,substantially as herein shown and de scribed.

4. In a veloeipede, the combination,with a vehicle-frame, ,of twolongitudinal tanks, A, the transverse tank B, provided with a dome, l3,and a neck, B, the necks H, secured to the front ends of the tank A, andunited by a collar, H, surrounding the neck on the dome, the arms 1) c,projecting upward and down ward from the collars h IL, the rings 1) andc on the ends of the arms I) and c, the arms (7, projecting from the topring, I), the connecting-rods d, the transverse rod 0, the shaft f, andthe transverse handlebar f ,substantially as herein shown and described.

5. A velocipede constructed with a skeleton frame provided with tworings or frames at the front and rear, and rings at the middle forholding the two tubular gas-tanks longitndinally, substantially asherein shown and described.

6. A velocipede constructed with a frame provided with two rings at thefront and rear projecting downward for holding a cylinder for holdingthe tubular gas-tanks, and of downand valve-chest, substantially asherein shown 10 wardlyprojeeting arms at the rear in which anddescribed.

the rear axle is journaled, substantially as T T herein shown anddescribed. DAL [EL EROS 7. Avelocipede constructed with a from\Vitnesses:

having two rings at the front and rear for JAMES JACKSON, holdingtubular gas-tanks, and with hangers ALEX. TROY.

